Crossing signal



April 10, 192s.

J. W. KENNEDY CROSSING SIGNAL File Aug. 13, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l M UUIJUL.'

UULIUUUl-l April 1o, 192s.

'.1. w. KENNEDY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Aug. l5. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 aga Zim vm x fon I Jamie@ W/ennaf/ l April 1o, 1928.`

J. W. KENNEDY CROSSING SIGNAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 13. 1923 gmc/wko@ Jannes W Kenne@ gaa/@Tm April 1o, 192s. 1,665,592

J. W. KENNEDY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Aue. l5. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I ;l'l|l Illl 45 c/Qme 14./ 17672 Wed j Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

, UNITED STATES 1,665,592 PATENT oFFicE.

y 'JAMES yW.y KENNEDY, or CANTON, omo.'

CROSSING 'SIGNAL Applicatonled August 13, 1923. Serial No. 857,049.

Another objectis to provide asigna/li which will remain inoperation until a vehicle has time to safely pass the crossing and then automatically' cease to function. The majority of crossing signals are in the form ofsigns and are situated yin sicha positionl that they do not'.warn the .driver of a vehicle that he is approaching a crossing, in time to stop. To correct this defect I provide a signal in theform of ay human figure which will operate and warn. the driver of danger ata distance from ythe crossing, sufficient to enable him to slow down before reaching the same. v i

A still furtherobject of my inventionis to provide a signal which is operated by the vehicle itself as it approaches a crossing.

' With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the :description proceeds, m invention consists inthe novel features erein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more` particularly pointed out in the appended claim. In the drawings; Fig. 1 is a. view looking down on my'device, showing the signal at two intersecting streets, and the vehicle operated means for actuating the same.

Fig. 2is an enlarged view of my signal,

showing the lights and stop sign secured to l a ii re in the form of a human being.

Fig B.'is a view taken on line 3.3 of

on the signal operating means.

Fig. 5 isa detail view in section of the vehicle operated road switch or circuit clos-v -Y figure 34, and is secured by the bearing 35.

ing device.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view from 'fank voperates. a .stop signal 3 0 provided with 31,. the operation of' which is described in my former Patent No.

other point, of Fig.`5, and

Fig. 7 is a detail diagrammatic view of the1 mechanism and wiring of the signal itse in the road, and enclosedin a container 2, preferably composed ofsheet steel which is "oit a cross bar'21.

provided with flanges. These flanges extend over the surfacev of: the road for a distance sufficient to allow for. the road to expand Vand contract without leaving a space along the sides of thecontainer. 4Udesig-v nates a plate preferably brass, which is l crimped to the container thusy rendering it water tight. 'l

Depression disks are composed ofv ahard durable metal, and are provided-with \re,

duced threaded portions 6 whichl pass through the'holes 7 in the plate 4 and erigage thev threaded apertures 8 in contact ins i 9, Between the contact pins and the `p ate 4, I provide the insulation 14 which may be composed of any suitable resilient material. At the bottom of the casing 1, I provide a rubber packing 10 which supports a copper screen 11.-

The screen `11 and the plate 4 are y rovided with electrical connections 12 w ich- :leadfto the signal through the conduitlr,

and by depressing the/ contact pins 9 a circuit is made.

In the space rubber or other suitable material which will giveandallow the pins 9 to contact with the copper screen 11. As a filling for the spaces between the `heads of thecontact points, I use strips 15 of cork or other similar matebetween the plate 4 and the f screen 11, I provide a packing 16, of'soft oted arm 19, the arm being held out of operation by a spring 27. This arm is connected pivoted arm 20 by means The other end of said arm 20 is bent in substantially a hook shape at one end to the Fig: 2. i 2G adapted to-enga'ge the rotatably mounted ig. 4 is an enlarged view looking downroller -'28 onthe disk 22 4and oscillate said disk. Keyed to the center-of the disk 22, is a rotating hollow rod 29 which extends through the body portion of the human The other end of said rod is secured to and a plurality of lights 1,421,251 of 1922. The stop signal `is ivoted at 32 and secured inplace by the ro 33;

At the same time the arm 2O actuates the disk 22 and the stop signal, it pulls back the piston 36fiby 'means of the jointed rods 37, thus forcin the oil or other suitablev Huid up into-t e reservoir 38 through the apertures 39 of the ball valve 40. Then the oil leaves the reservoir 41, the oat 42 dep I provide an upwardly projecting finger 23,

which when4 the arm is drawn down in contact with the corelof the coil 2", engages the recess 22' of the. disk 22-and locks the mechanism of the stop signal.

After the'oil has run back through the delay element or -valve 40 it raises the float 42 and breaks the circuit at 44, de-energizing the coil 25 and allowing the spring 26 to `draw the arm back into normal position, at the same time breakin the light circuit 46. This also releases'l the nger 23 from the 're- 'cess 2 2 of` the disk 22, thus allowing the counterweight 47 to restore the stop signal 30 to-a'nonandicating position.

The road circuitclosing means is situated in street X at a greater distance from the intersection of the two streets, than the circuit closin means in street Y as the vehicle approac ing' the crossing on street X has the right of way. By placing the ycircuit closing means in this manner the'vehicle on street 'X operates the signal first thus warning the driver on road Y of his approach. Y

If the vehicle on street Y operates the signal 'before the vehicle on'street X reaches the same, it will warn the latter in time for him toreduce his s eed. Y

vThe operation o .my device is obvious.

Lacasse A vehicle passing over the read circuit closer 1, will depress the disks 5 and with them the ,plate 4 which will bring the pins 9 in contact with the screen 1l. This will close the circuit, 18 which will actuate the arms 19 and 20, By this movement the disk 22 is turned and with it the stop signal 30. At the same time the suction of the. piston 36 will lower the float 42 and close the circuit at 44 which energizes the coil 25 drawing down the arm 24, closing thel light circuit 46 and locking the disk 22 at 22".

After the vehicle has had time to safely pass the crossing, the oil will have run back through the valve 4() and forced the float' hicle operated means for energizing' said magnet on the apxproach of a vehicle, tothe intersection, latc means for retaining said signal in signaling position and for energizing said lamp, a magnet for maintaining said latch in operative position, a circuit for said magnet, means including a dash pot actuated by said signal operating means to close the circuit to said last mentioned magnet for delaying the release of said latch for a predetermined time lafter the operation of said signal.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES W. KENNEDY.

om non-'signaling position to signaling position, including a magnet, ve- 

